Salisbury steak is an American classic and has been around for years..and for a good reason. It’s the ultimate comfort food and a downright delicious meal that is easy to make! This recipe is a keto-friendly alternative to Salisbury steak that is smothered in a creamy mushroom sauce!

How to make keto & low carb Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

I love hamburgers, but when you’re following a keto diet, they are not an option..unless, of course, you nix the bread and just eat the patty, which doesn’t equate to a full “meal” in my opinion.

This easy Salisbury steak is an excellent alternative if you want to enjoy burgers that are kicked up another level. They remind me more of mini meatloaves but fancier. To make this keto and low carb, I left out the traditionally added bread crumbs, soaked bread, or a “panade” which doesn’t affect the flavor at all. Each ‘steak’ is topped with a deliciously rich, thick mushroom sauce, which is the best part!

I’ve included step by step pictures below for those who are visual along with a few tips you don’t want to miss. Make sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the recipe card that includes the full list of ingredients and instructions. 

Step 1: Form the meat mixture into six hamburger patties, season each side well, and cook for approx 3-5 minutes on each side until the hamburger lifts easily off the skillet and is browned. Remove the hamburgers from the skillet and set aside.

Time Saving Tip: Buy the patties already formed at the grocery store.

Step 2: Reserve 3 TB of the pan drippings then add mushrooms and onions to the skillet. Saute for approximately 5 minutes over medium-high heat or until the onions and mushrooms are soft.

Step 3: Deglaze your pan by adding the beef broth. Scrape the bottom of the pan to remove all the browned bits on the bottom. They are full of flavor! Add the rest of the gravy ingredients and bring to a boil. Whisk in your Xanthan gum to thicken your sauce.

Step 4: Add hamburgers back to the pan and turn the stove down to low. Simmer for 15 minutes with the lid on flipping once halfway through.

Step 5: Serve over a bed of steamed riced cauliflower.

Tip: To make the steamed riced cauliflower even tastier, dump it into a skillet after steaming and add 2 TB butter and 2 TB beef broth, then bring it to a boil. Lower the temperature to medium/low heat and simmer for a few minutes.

Mushroom Gravy (Sauce)

The mushroom gravy is what makes this meal so irresistible. Thick, creamy, and seasoned with lots of flavors! I used beef broth as the base of my sauce and added Worcestershire sauce and Braggs Aminos to the gravy for added flavor. Xanthan gum is used to thicken the gravy, which is 100% keto-friendly and very easy to use!

How to thicken your gravy without carbs:

1. If you have never used Xanthan gum before, it is easy to use. I recommend adding a little at a time, starting with 3/4 of a teaspoon. Spoon out a little of the gravy mixture into a bowl and whisk in your Xanthan gum. Stir until it thickens, then whisk it back into the sauce and allow it to simmer for about 3 minutes. If it doesn’t thicken up enough, you can always add more but a little at a time.

*You have to be careful with Xanthan gum as it can cause food to have a slimy texture if you use too much. 

2. Simply allow your gravy to reduce. As water evaporates, the sauce will naturally thicken. This will take time, anywhere from 15-30 minutes, but it works well and concentrates the flavors immensely. Here are some great tips for reducing sauces.

How to thicken your gravy using cornstarch:

Cornstarch isn’t keto-friendly as it is made from the starchy part of the corn kernel. It contains 7 grams of carbs per tablespoon, but it does have more thickening power than flour, so you don’t need much! If you are more low carb than keto, it might be an option.

Not a fan of mushrooms?

No problem! You can omit the mushrooms if you want. A better option is to double onions in this recipe. You could also substitute a different veggie in place if you wish like spinach or green peppers, which would go great with the steak and onions!

Other keto options to serve with your steak

• Mashed cauliflower
• Zucchini noodles aka zoodles
• Creamy spinach
• Easy Low Carb Keto Biscuits Recipe (Southern Style)

Other low carb keto beef dinner ideas:

• Cheesy Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
• Keto Egg Roll in a Bowl (Stove Top or Instant Pot)
• Keto Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry (Quick & Easy)
• Cheesy Ground Beef & Cauliflower Casserole (Keto)
• 20 Delicious Keto Beef Recipes
• Keto Steak with Garlic Butter Mushrooms

How to make keto Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy:

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Keto Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

Salisbury steak is an American classic and has been around for years..and for a good reason. It's the ultimate comfort food and a downright delicious meal that is easy to make! This recipe is a keto-friendly alternative to Salisbury steak that is smothered in a creamy mushroom sauce!

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time32 mins

Total Time37 mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6

Calories: 421kcal

Author: Kasey Trenum

Ingredients

• 1 TB butter, unsalted
• 2 lbs ground beef, or 6 patties I bought pre-made in the meat dept.
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp garlic powder

Mushroom Gravy

• 4 oz mushrooms sliced
• ½ Medium onion sliced
• 3 TB reserved pan drippings
• 1 ¾ cup beef broth
• ½ tsp pepper
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• 1 TB Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp Braggs Aminos (or soy sauce)
• ¾ tsp Xanthan Gum

Instructions

• Form the ground beef into 6 hamburger patties if you didn’t buy them premade.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Combine onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Sprinkle half of the seasoning mixture onto one side of the hamburger patty then place seasoning side down into the hot skillet.
• Cook for approx 3-5 minutes until the hamburger lifts easily off the skillet and is browned.
• Sprinkle the other side of the hamburger patty with the rest of the seasoning mixture, then turn over to brown the other side for approximately 3-5 minutes.
• Remove the hamburgers from the skillet and set aside.
• Reserve 3 TB of the pan drippings then add mushrooms and onions to the skillet.
• Saute for approximately 5 minutes or until the onions and mushrooms are soft.
• Deglaze your pan by adding the beef broth. Scrape the bottom of the pan to remove all the browned bits on the bottom. They are full of flavor!
• Add the rest of the gravy ingredients except the Xanthan Gum.
• Bring to a boil over medium/high heat and boil for 2 minutes.
• Remove 2 tsp of the gravy mixture from the pan and put in a small bowl.
• Add the Xanthan Gum to the bowl and stir it into the gravy mixture. It will thicken up very quickly.
• Add it back to the skillet and whisk for a minute or so to incorporate into the gravy and simmer for 3 minutes on medium-low heat.
• Add hamburgers back to the skillet and turn the stove down to low.
• Simmer for 15 minutes with the lid on flipping once halfway through. The gravy will continue to thicken as it simmers.
• If the gravy is too thick, add more broth. If it still is too thin, follow the instructions above to add Xanthan Gum but only add 1/4 tsp at a time and wait for it to thicken.
• Serve hot over riced cauliflower.

Notes

How to thicken your gravy without carbs:

If you have never used Xanthan gum before, it is easy to use. I recommend adding a little at a time, starting with 3/4 of a teaspoon. If it doesn't thicken up enough, you can always add more but a little at a time.

*You have to be careful with Xanthan gum as it can cause food to have a slimy texture if you use too much. 

If you do not have Xanthan gum:

Simply allow your gravy to reduce. As water evaporates, the sauce will naturally thicken. This will take time, anywhere from 15-30 minutes, but it works well and concentrates the flavors immensely. Here are some great tips for reducing sauces.

Cornstarch isn't keto-friendly as it is made from the starchy part of the corn kernel. It contains 7 grams of carbs per tablespoon, but it does have more thickening power than flour, so you don't need much! If you are more low carb than keto, it might be an option. 

Nutrition

Serving: 6g | Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 860mg | Potassium: 542mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 58IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 3mg